Ministries plan measures to deal with ageing society
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Six ministries are launching measures to cope with the greying of society, expected to make up 30 per cent of the population within two decades. They will start with 155 subdistricts in 76 provinces this year.
They are the Social Development and Human Security, Public Health, Interior, Education and Labour ministries.
Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong told a press conference at Government House yesterday that Thailand would become an ageing society in 10 years.
The Science and Technology Ministry showcased an application that lets the elderly press a button to call for help via smartphones and studies for food suitable for the elderly with chronic illnesses.
The Education Ministry will provide short- and long-term care programmes, informal education classes that seniors could help teach and literacy lessons for the elderly.
Social Development and Human Security Minister Adul Saengsingkaew said Thailand had 8.9 million elderly people, which would rise to 16 million by 2027 – one-fourth of the population.
The ministry plans to strengthen 27,000 communities to be more self-reliant, set up schools for senior people plus 878 community health centres, and train 80,000 volunteers to take care of them.
The Public Health Ministry will provide dental services starting with 250,000 dentures, health and social-welfare services for dependent elderly starting with 500 volunteers.
It will also set up 30,000 “family care” teams this year in addition to the existing 15,000 teams and promoting working-age people’s preparedness to become healthy seniors.
